US President Donald Trump urged Nato nations to stop buying Russian oil and join the US in tougher sanctions. In a letter, he said major sanctions on Russia will only happen when all Nato members agree and act together. Trump also asked Nato to place 50% to 100% tariffs on China, saying it will weaken Beijing’s influence over Moscow. He warned that without unity, US resources would be wasted. Trump recently imposed a 25% tariff on Indian goods for continuing Russian oil imports and threatened secondary sanctions on China and India if the war in Ukraine continues. (PC: India Today)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Sushila Karki on becoming Nepal’s first woman prime minister, calling her appointment “a shining example of women empowerment.” Speaking in Manipur, Modi said Karki would bring peace, stability, and prosperity to Nepal. He also congratulated her on behalf of 140 crore Indians. Karki, a former chief justice and anti-corruption activist, was sworn in on Friday after KP Sharma Oli resigned following protests. She was chosen by student groups leading demonstrations against corruption and restrictions on freedom. Modi reaffirmed India’s support, saying India remains committed to Nepal’s peace, progress, and prosperity. (PC: Hindustan Times)

India and China are implementing new trust-building measures along the LAC in eastern Ladakh, focusing on enhanced surveillance infrastructure to reduce patrol deployments and potential clashes. Since the 2020 military standoff, India has established comprehensive monitoring networks being continuously upgraded. The robust ISR infrastructure aims to ease winter patrolling challenges and reduce troop casualties from harsh weather conditions. Following October 2024 agreements, both sides conduct coordinated patrols to avoid confrontations. Recent diplomatic talks established expert groups under WMCC to explore "early harvest" boundary delimitation solutions, prioritizing easily resolvable issues first. Despite disengagement progress, 50,000-60,000 troops remain stationed on both sides, with full de-escalation still pending through ongoing diplomatic and military mechanisms. (PC: The Print & India Today)

Former Indian intelligence officer Lucky Bisht claims Pakistan's ISI operates powerfully in Nepal under CIA direction, orchestrating recent GenZ-led protests against the corrupt regime. Bisht suggests the youth movement is merely a front for larger intelligence operations. He describes the ousted KP Sharma Oli government as a "Chinese-backed administration" rather than Nepal's legitimate government, claiming Western powers wanted it removed. The ex-NSG official predicts a new US-aligned government will emerge in Nepal, having accurately forecasted the regime change months earlier in December. Bisht alleges the CIA is "100% behind" Nepal's unrest, with ISI serving as their regional proxy to counter Chinese influence in the strategically important Himalayan nation. (PC: Times Now)

A Sikh woman in her twenties was raped by two white men in broad daylight in Oldbury, UK, while being subjected to racist abuse including "go back to your country." The racially aggravated attack occurred near Tame Road at 8:30 AM last Tuesday. West Midlands Police are examining CCTV footage and forensic evidence to identify the suspects, described as one man with shaved head in dark sweatshirt, another in grey top. Birmingham MP Preet Kaur Gill condemned the "extreme violence and racially aggravated abuse," while Ilford South MP Jas Athwal called it a "vile, racist, misogynist attack" reflecting rising racial tensions. The incident follows recent brutal assaults on elderly Sikh men at Wolverhampton railway station, sparking community outrage. (PC: News 18 & NDTV)

Philip Francisca, a 27-year-old Romanian PhD student at BHU, was found dead in her Varanasi rented room under suspicious circumstances. Police have sent her body for postmortem and informed the Romanian Embassy. Senior officer Atul Anjan Tripathi revealed Francisca had childhood epilepsy and was receiving treatment. No suicide note or medicines were found. Authorities seized her passport, visa, and phone for investigation. She held a valid visa until 2027 and had previously studied in Surat and Amritsar. The incident follows recent student deaths including a 22-year-old MBA student found with gunshot wounds and a 20-year-old at BITS Pilani, raising concerns about student safety across Indian educational institutions. (PC: ETV Bharat & India Today)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Sushila Karki on Saturday after she was sworn in as Nepal's interim Prime Minister. President Ramchandra Paudel administered the oath at the President's Office following deadly protests that toppled KP Sharma Oli's government. Modi stated on X that "India remains firmly committed to the peace, progress, and prosperity of the people of Nepal." Karki becomes Nepal's first woman Prime Minister, chosen through a unique public vote by Gen Z leaders on Discord platform. Parliament was dissolved Friday with fresh elections scheduled for March 5, 2026. India-Nepal share a 1,751 km border across five Indian states, with relations strengthened by cultural, religious, and linguistic commonalities. (PC: X)

President Donald Trump acknowledged Friday that imposing 50% tariffs on Indian exports has strained US-India relations. Speaking to Fox News, Trump admitted the tariffs are a punishment for India's continued purchase of Russian oil despite Western sanctions, caused "a rift with India." The tariffs, which doubled from an initial 25%, have sparked anti-US sentiment in India. Despite bilateral trade worth $190 billion annually, US-India ties remain tense after trade talks collapsed over agricultural and dairy sector access. Trump's nominee for India ambassador, Sergio Gor, called the situation a "little hiccup" and promised to pull India "in our direction." Trump indicated he would speak with PM Modi as his patience with Putin over Ukraine "runs out fast." (PC: Firstpost & TRT Global) 

In a horrifying incident in Dallas, 50-year-old Indian-origin motel manager Chandra Mouli ‘Bob’ Nagamallaiah was brutally beheaded by co-worker Yordanis Cobos-Martinez after a workplace argument. The attack, witnessed by Nagamallaiah’s wife and son, occurred at Downtown Suites motel. CCTV footage captured Cobos-Martinez chasing and attacking the victim with a machete, later disposing of the severed head in a dumpster. The accused, with a criminal history including assault and indecency charges, admitted to the crime and is held on capital murder charges. Friends and family mourn Nagamallaiah, a beloved figure from Karnataka. The Indian community is rallying around the grieving family, shaken by the brutality of the act.

Indian-origin physician Dr. Suman Khulbe has lost her medical license in Canada after being found guilty of sexual abuse and boundary violations with patients. The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) revoked her license following a tribunal that determined she engaged in sexual acts with one male patient and maintained inappropriate professional relationships with two other patients. The CPSO announcement follows the tribunal's conclusion of serious professional misconduct. The case highlights ongoing concerns about patient safety and professional boundaries in healthcare settings. The license revocation represents one of the most severe disciplinary actions available to medical regulatory bodies for protecting patients from professional misconduct by healthcare providers. (PC: Daily Mail)